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NBA 2024/25 Rookie Rankings: January

Stephon Castle
(Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)

NBA 2024/25 Rookie Rankings: January

No, the 2024/25 NBA rookie class doesn’t have a tentpole star like Victor Wembanyama or Paolo Banchero to highlight them. What they do have, though, is a series of solid contributors who should develop into key contributors. And you never know where an All-Star may come from. The last draft to be regarded as poorly as 2024 was 2013, which gave us Victor Oladipo, Rudy Gobert, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Those two classes share quite a few similarities.

As always, these rankings reflect the players’ performance through the previous month, not the entire season.

  1. Stephon Castle – San Antonio Spurs (Last ranking: 4)

Castle’s offensive game continues to fluctuate, though his performances as a starter – as he has been for the past eight contests – have been excellent.

 PPGRPGAPGFG%3P%
Starter14.92.84.041.7%29.10%
Reserve7.22.22.837.0%15.80%

Whilst there is clearly some Wemby shine rubbing off on Castle as a starter, he is still making his own waves. His ability to get to his spots is impressive and the dunk contest combatant looks to yam on anybody and everybody when he finds a runway.

Defensively, Castle is already outstanding. His size (6’6”), strength, speed, and anticipation a formidable recipe, allowing him to shadow a wide variety of players.

2. Yves Missi – New Orleans Pelicans (LR: 2)

Most of the NBA community – this writer included – questioned the Pelicans decision to go with journeyman Daniel Theis and raw rookie Yves Missi to man the centre spot at the start of the season. As it turns out, New Orleans knew what they had.

He clearly possesses the athletic tools but has also proved a quick study, taking to an admittedly simple brief ever so comfortably. Missi leads all rookies in boards per game and sits behind Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan by a tenth of a block. He is third amongst rookies in minutes played and second in FG% at 56.6 (minimum 500 minutes played)

He sits sixth amongst all players – not just rookies – with a 13.4 offensive rebounding percentage.

3: Alexandre Sarr – Washington Wizards (LR: 1)

After winning the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December, January was somewhat of a letdown for the 19-year-old. After continuing with his relatively hot shooting in the first few games of the month, Sarr went ice cold, shooting 38.2% from the floor and 28.6% from behind the arc. Encouragingly, Sarr has maintained his assist numbers at around 2.5 per game, as the Wizards look to get him involved in all facets of their offense.

Defensively, Sarr remains strong. Teams are even beginning to structure their attacks away from the rookie. Whilst that does show respect to Sarr’s already very good defensive chops, it also means that they’re attacking literally anybody else, knowing that they’re likely a well below average stopper. Once the Wiz start to surround Sarr with some capable defenders, his own defensive metrics could soar.

4. Jaylen Wells – Memphis Grizzlies (LR: 3)

Wells is the embodiment of the phrase ‘stay ready’.

The 39th pick was thrust into unexpected early minutes thanks to the Grizzlies injury issues. Now, with the roster far closer to complete, he has maintained his starting role.

In a win against Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, spent time on Anthony Edwards before Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins decided to go small, moving Wells on to Julius Randle. The Wolves forward proceeded to go 2/13 from the floor, whilst Edwards got off the chain late, notably with Wells no longer his marker.

Whilst he doesn’t project as anything more than a typical 3&D wing, thanks to a lack of creativity and rim finishing, his reliable three-point shot should mean he should always have a role on offense.

5. Kel’el Ware – Miami Heat (LR: New Entry)

Falling to 15th in the draft, the Heat backed their #Culture to draw the best out of the talented, if wayward, Ware. So far, so good.

Big, bouncy, skilled and possessing a dangerous jumper, Ware has begun to show exactly what he is capable of over the past month. After some big games off the bench (19 points, 11 rebounds against the Clippers, 25/8 and two blocks versus San Antonio) Ware has been elevated into the starting five, alongside incumbent centre Bam Adebayo. As a starter he’s posting just the lazy 17 points and 10.3 boards, on 63/47/83 shooting splits. Sheesh!

Ware’s ability to stretch the floor – he has drained nine treys in his four games in the starting unit – allows Adebayo to stay nearer to the basket on offense, whilst Bam’s ability to defend on the perimeter means that Miami can go big and still have a shot blocker protecting the hoop.

6. Ryan Dunn – Phoenix Suns (LR: 10)

Since becoming a full-time starter, in place of Bradley Beal, in early January, Phoenix has markedly improved, going 10-4 to Improve their record to 24-21 overall. His defensive presence is precisely what the Suns need alongside offensive dynamos Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Averaging 9.7 points and 4.7 boards through the month, Dunn’s shooting remains a concern, though the open looks he gets playing alongside the starters has seen him shooting at an acceptable 35.1% from beyond the arc on a diet of wide-open shots.  Dunn enjoyed a five-game stretch where he scored in double figures each game as well as recording a double-double.

7. Zach Edey – Memphis Grizzlies (LR: 8)

After missing two games through the concussion protocol, Edey cooled off after beginning to look very good in late December.

Teams are, of course, looking to draw the giant Canadian away from the paint and test his defensive mobility, where he has admittedly struggled. The Grizz seem to be countering that by encouraging Edey to stretch the floor himself, the rookie going a respectable 5/15 from deep through January.

Edey’s sheer size and strength make him a fore on the boards, averaging 16.5 rebounds per 100 possessions. He’s simply immovable, as Jazz big Drew Eubanks found out.

8. Carlton Carrington – Washington Wizards (LR: 5)

Carrington continues to play serious minutes for the Wizards and continues to make improvements. ‘Bub’ has done a great job looking after the basketball, turning the ball over just 12 times – and never more than twice in a game – in 448 minutes.

Unfortunately, his shot appears to have completely abandoned him on the Wizards recent road trip, shooting just 36% over the six-game western swing.

9. Zaccharie Risacher – Atlanta Hawks (LR: 7)

The raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but Risacher has proven a steady presence for the Hawks. Is that worth a first overall pick? In this class, perhaps.

In an offense where he is, at best, the fifth highest priority, Risacher hasn’t ben asked to create many opportunities. Rather, he is tasked with keeping the ball moving, making quick decisions and attacking the cracks that Trae Young, Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter create. Fortunately, Risacher has demonstrated a mature basketball brain and a patience rarely seen in rookie ballers.

10. Quinten Post – Golden State Warriors (LR: NE)

With apologies to Donovan Clingan, we’re taking a little bit of a flyer, here. Up until the past fortnight, Post had made all of three appearances – for just 12 minutes – thanks to an injury that robbed him of his first training camp.

An extended frontcourt injury list has given the rookie a chance to play, and the 24-year-old has grasped it with both hands, even making his first career tart against the Thunder (the less said about that game, however…).

The 7-footer has given Steph Curry something he has never had: a genuine floor stretching big. In the five games where he has played significant minutes, Post has made 11 threes at 39.3%, a lovely chemistry already developing.

Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis will return in short order, though Post has done enough to earn spot minutes even on a full-strength Warriors.

Dropping out: Ja’Kobe Walter, Tristan da Silva.

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